Context:
India will host its first multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti, in August 2024.
More on the news
- The Indian Airforce (IAF) announced to host the Tarang Shakti Exercise in the recently concluded Red Flag Exercise in the USA.
- Around 10 countries are likely to participate in the exercise, in addition to a few others acting as observers
- Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States will send contingents.
- Germany will deploy fighter jets and also an A-400M transport aircraft.
The A-400M aircraft will be on showcase for the IAF, given that it is a contender for the open tender for medium transport aircraft. - The exercise is scheduled to be held in two phases.
The first will be held in southern India in the first two weeks of August, and the second will be held in the western sector (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) from the end of August to mid-September. - Some countries will participate in both phases, while others will join one of the two phases.
Significance:
- This mega-exercise aims to enhance professional interaction among participating air forces, enrich combat doctrines, and facilitate valuable exchanges of insights.
- The wargames will showcase India’s growing strategic partnerships and commitment to international cooperation.
About the Red Flag Exercise
- It was hosted by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and concluded at the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
- This was the second edition of Red Flag this year. The USAF hosts the exercise four times a year.
- Red Flag is an air combat exercise designed to provide realistic combat settings. A demarcation of forces is done to simulate the desired environment, with the Red Force simulating Air Defence elements and the Blue Force simulating the Offensive Composite elements.
- The IAF contingent participated with the Rafale aircraft and personnel comprising of aircrew, technicians, engineers, controllers and subject matter experts.
- The IAF deployed eight Rafale fighters, a first at Red Flag, supported by IL-78 mid-air refuellers for the transatlantic ferry, as well as C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
- Key takeaways included insights into working with international partners and a shared understanding of employment philosophy in a multinational context.